Greens put pressure on Federal Govt over regulations

THE Greens have launched a campaign to ensure federal environmental regulations are not watered down during the Federal Government's push to streamline national federal laws.

The minority party appealed to voters' environmental consciences, pitching the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, threatened species and Kakadu as justification.

Party leader Senator Christine Milne and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters led the charge at the launch of the "too precious to lose" campaign on Wednesday in Canberra.

Senator Milne said the Prime Minister was working with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to dissolve the Federal laws put in place by then-prime minister John Howard.

Senator Waters said if the national laws were dissolved, it would be left up to Premier Campbell Newman to protect the reef, and "all indications" were that he would not.

But after the Queensland Government has already used its mandate to remove 12% of the state environment laws, and the streamlining process was already underway through the Council of Australian Governments, the campaign would rely on people power.

In an appeal to urban voters, Senator Waters said those people concerned about taking their children and grandchildren to internationally important environmental assets needed to support the campaign.

Senator Milne said the party was also appealing for funds to help bring the campaign to television screens, while Senator Scott Ludlam asked voters to log on to the tooprecioustolose.org.au website.